Environmental Impact Assignment for Mass Excavation Projects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods face challenges in accurately assessing the environmental impact of mass excavation projects due to the complexity of managing diverse loading and transporting assets from various manufacturers and operators, which are often utilized across multiple sites.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that calculates the environmental impact by obtaining daily operating times and fuel consumption rates of loading assets and distances traveled by transporting assets, assigning these impacts to specific mass excavation projects based on utilization shares, and using location data to determine carbon-dioxide equivalent emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive operational data collection from multiple assets and operators is implemented, then measurement precision of environmental impact is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential data elements needed for environmental impact assessment (operating time, fuel consumption rates, distances) from the complex operational data landscape. By focusing on these specific parameters rather than collecting all possible operational data, the system achieves measurement precision without requiring a complex comprehensive data collection infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs universal data collection methods that work across multiple asset types and operators. By using standardized approaches for collecting operating time, fuel consumption, and distance data that are applicable to diverse loading and transporting assets, the patent simplifies the data collection process while maintaining assessment accuracy across different manufacturers and operators.
2Ease of operation
If standardized assessment methodology is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different asset configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter-based assessment where the methodology remains standardized but the specific parameter values (fuel consumption rates, operating times, distances) are adapted to each asset and project. This allows the same assessment framework to be applied universally while accommodating different asset types, manufacturers, and operational configurations through variable parameter inputs.
3Measurement precision
If detailed operational information is collected from multiple sources, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time in data collection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and selection of the specific data elements needed for environmental impact assessment before actual data collection begins. By pre-defining that only operating time, fuel consumption rates, and distances are required, the system avoids time-consuming collection of unnecessary operational data while ensuring all necessary measurements are captured.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method therein for assigning environmental impact values to mass excavation projects utilizing an excavation site is described. The method comprise obtaining a daily operating time of one or more loading assets at the excavation site, determining at least one first environmental impact based on the obtained daily operating time and at least one fuel or energy consumption rate, obtaining a distance to a target depositing site for one or more transporting assets, determining at least one second environmental impact based on the obtained distances and at least one fuel or energy consumption rate, and assigning at least part of the determined first and second environmental impact to one or more of the mass excavation projects.